Acne

What Causes Mouth Acne?

Many people suffer from mouth acne i.e. acne around the mouth. While mouth acne can be caused due to the factors such as hormonal changes, pollution, heat etc., there are many day-to-day activities which can contribute to it. Knowing these triggers of acne and avoiding them can help you to prevent mouth acne.

What Causes Mouth Acne?

If you have recurrent mouth acne, it might be caused due to the following factors:

Toothpaste:

Toothpastes containing Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and fluoride can irritate the skin around the mouth and cause mouth acne. To avoid this, after brushing your teeth, wash your mouth thoroughly to get rid of the toothpaste residue.Â You can also switch to toothpastes which do not contain fluoride and sodium Lauryl sulfate

Toothbrush:

Toothbrush can harbor bacteria and thereby cause acne. Cleaning the toothbrush and changing it frequently is recommended

Nail Biting:

Those who bite their nails also transfer the bacteria from their nails to the mouth, triggering mouth acne. To avoid this, Cut your nails with a nail clipper and avoid biting your nails

Touch:

Phone:

Speaking with the phone touching your face can cause acne, as phones can trap bacteria

Cosmetics:

Lipsticks, lip gloss, chap stick etc. can spread bacteria if shared and cause mouth acne. Excessive make-up can also clog the pores and result in acne around the mouth

Unhygienic:

Improper cleansing of mouth after eating can cause acne. Hence, after eating, thoroughly clean your mouth and its surrounding areas

To prevent mouth acne, you can follow a regular cleansing and exfoliating routine. Over-the-counter cleansers and medications can also help in treating mouth acne. Some people confuse herpes outbreak with mouth acne and a dermatologist can tell the difference. If your mouth acne is persistent, do consult your dermatologist for proper diagnosis and treatment.